Board Members
VREF is governed by a Board of Directors, four of whom are statutory: The Medical Center’s Director, Chief of Staff, Associate Chief of Staff (ACOS) for Research and Education. The Board of Directors has appointed an Executive Director to develop and implement policy and manage the operations of VREF.
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Ziyad Al-Aly, M.D., Member
- Dr. Al-Aly, a Nephrologist, has been a dedicated VA researcher for over ten years. Dr. Al-Aly focuses his research on the relationship between kidney disease and clinical outcomes.

Amy Joseph, M.D., Member
- Dr. Joseph, a rheumatologist with over 19 years of active research at the St. Louis VA, studies rheumatoid arthritis and gout. She has served on the Foundation board since 2012

Jay McDonald, M.D., Member
Dr. McDonald, Chief, Infectious Diseases, has been actively involved in research at the VA for over fifteen years. Dr. McDonald’s research uses data from national VA databases to address questions related to infectious complications of immunosuppressive medications and bone and joint infections.
Dr. McDonald, Chief, Infectious Diseases, has been actively involved in research at the VA for over fifteen years. Dr. McDonald’s research uses data from national VA databases to address questions related to infectious complications of immunosuppressive medications and bone and joint infections.
Candace Ifabiyi, Member (not pictured)
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Mary Coleman, Member (not pictured)
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Dr. Christopher Prevel, Member (not pictured)
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Patricia McKelvy (not pictured)
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some current and former board members at a VREF event in 2019.
From left to Right: Mary Coleman, Keith Repko, Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, Dr. Amy Joseph, Dr. Michael Crittenden, Dr. Jay McDonald, and April Kirkley
From left to Right: Mary Coleman, Keith Repko, Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, Dr. Amy Joseph, Dr. Michael Crittenden, Dr. Jay McDonald, and April Kirkley